My first memory of Miri was seeing her push her single buggy past my home on her regular strolls with her husband. Little did I know soon she’d have a double-stroller, and they’d one day make my home/studio the destination to capture her beautiful family.

She began talking to me about a session soon after the birth of her second. She came to the studio to check out the artwork in person, and talk through all our options. As he neared his first birthday, she was ready, and so were her kiddos, with their beaming smiles.

I know it can be intimidating, bringing littles, hoping it works out. This was the day after the time change, so they were already in their “witching hour,” and naps hadn’t been successful. But when our goal is focused, rather than our goal just being to make them perform for an hour, then we can put our energy into nailing what we need, and stop shooting at the first signs of angst.

We shot the first images on the trails in the woods behind the studio, and then ran to the front of the house to chase the sun for individuals of the kids.

Miri had the perfect space for her collection. We had a great time exploring the different sizing and configuration options.

She loved the funky vibe of the square prints, but wanted a touch more room and emphasis on the whole family. These will be matte floating metals.

Next? I send to print, and then head over there to install them! I can’t wait to see them up. A journey worth every step.

Her Profile

“Hold on, Kiddo, I gotta make sure everything is charged up in the studio for tomorrow’s session.”

She follows on my heels like a puppy.

“Will you take my picture?” She asks.

PersonalRachel LinkwaldNovember 26, 2023family, family photo, atlanta family photographer, family photography, daughterComment

Together, Not Together

If there’s only one thing I can gift my kids, for them to pass down to future generations, it is this.

Time is precious, we’re all changing so quickly. The opportunity to mark this time is now.

My sister and her family were in the country for the first time in a year and a half. I had been aching to have this. Getting everyone in the studio simultaneously would have been a challenge. Instead, I booked everyone in slots over the course of two days. Each unit was able to select their favorite version of themselves, and then I combined them into one piece.

This also gave me the ability to create subset groupings, to gift for Chanukkah. (Not so much a surprise…)

I’m feeling how critical family is. This moment won’t live on, but this piece of artwork for my home will.

PersonalRachel LinkwaldOctober 26, 2023family, family photography, family photo, atlanta family photographer, studio photography, studio, home studio, atlanta studio photography, generational art, generationsComment

Bat Mitzvah, Milestones Together

I think most people who know me, know I (and my family) am friends with this family.

But did you know I was their photographer first?

They hired me for a family session, the gallery wrap still stands on their mantle (soon to be replaced by one from this session!!) We didn’t know each other prior, but hit it off instantly. By the end of the session, they were urging me to move to their neighborhood, and join a women’s trip to Israel.

And the rest, they say, is history.

This is my fourth session with the Kahn family. But more than that, this is five years of amazing friendship. From family trips to mad cocktail experiments, we’ve been such a match.

But let’s get to the point of it all. Naomi. While I’m obviously fond of the parents, our daughters are fond of each other. Watching their friendship blossom through the years has been so lovely to watch. And now this beautiful and thoughtful girl has reached Bat Mitzvah, and we are so delighted to celebrate her.

She’s polite, and radiant, and so good with her brothers.

Speaking of brothers… Yosef needed a moment. He had us in absolute stitched the entire session.

Mazal tov to the Kahn family! May we have only Simchas!

Behind the scenes

ClientsRachel LinkwaldAugust 31, 2023bat mitzvah, family photography, atlanta photographer, family photo, family, atlanta family photographerComment

Not Annual Nor Insane

I call our yearly family self portrait the “annual insanity.” But I can’t use the term anymore, I’m afraid.

Our synagogue is asking everyone to submit family portraits for a mosaic project (which I’m so excited about!). I was editing portraits for two other families at that moment, and I realized I haven’t done ours since the beach two years ago! The shoemaker’s children have no shoes!

I add every year to our wall gallery - how did I skip a whole year??

Even more so, I realized we needed to update ours mere days before my daughter left for her first time at summer camp for a month, so with no time, I grabbed items from everyone’s closet, and hauled my tripod and lights to the front yard.

The top portrait will move to the stairs, and the new gallery wrap will take its place:

This is where I normally post a hilarious outtake. But there are none. Because my kids crushed it. So I guess I can’t call it “Annual” OR “Insanity” anymore!
(But I WILL do better! Every year or bust!)

Update! Galleries updated!

PersonalRachel LinkwaldJuly 3, 2023atlanta family photographer, atlanta photographer, family photography, gallery, gallery design, home gallery, self portrait Comment

Intentional Legacy

We have a formula.

In 2018, we did our first Cohen family session. Their three precious girls dipped their hands in the water.

In 2019, we recreated that image.

In 2021, we captured it again.

2023…

We also do a family photo.

And then each year we alternate, Dad with girls, Mom with girls. It was a mom year.

And then individuals of the three girls.

Every year we combine them into an accordion album to gift the grandparents, so they can enjoy them all on the go or displayed on a shelf.

What was cool, as we designed this year, is we continued to build upon what we’ve hung the previous three years. But did so with an intentionality regarding where we want to hang things next year, and the next. Avital has a vision, that she wants to continue to build every year “until they turn 18.” She loves being able to directly compare their growth and their journey. She is creating their legacy, she’s creating it now.

ClientsRachel LinkwaldJune 28, 2023atlanta, atlanta photographer, family photography, atlanta family photographerComment

Can't Hold Her Down

Jules enters my world and turns it upside down. She likes to do that. Tell it like it is, make you laugh, shake things up a bit. She moved to Atlanta less than a year ago with a vast knowledge of an insane number of industries, from arts to medical. She made instant friends, and whittled her family into the fabric of the community. Just as she was getting the family settled, her husband was finishing his first year teaching at a new school, she was switching companies, and she was about to jet to Israel for her son’s Bar Mitzvah, her own world turned upside down.

Despite how busy she was, she couldn’t ignore her difficulty breathing, her cough. A scan revealed a 10 cm mass from middle of her chest: lymphoma.

Her community immediately rallied, and you can, too. Will you please daven (pray) for Aviva Ariel bas Dafna?

Her three week Israel celebration for her son was switched to one week, so she can go between chemo treatments. They had planned to take pictures while there, but she felt an urgency to capture this moment, before the start of treatments.

*We’re printing it as a 18x24 floating matte metal, to hang over the mantel in the living room.*

Her treatment schedule is brutal, but her diagnosis comes with a 90% CURE rate. Give this lady everything you’ve got!

ClientsRachel LinkwaldJune 26, 2023cancer, lymphoma, photography, gallery, home art, home gallery, atlanta photographer, atlanta family photographerComment

Who She Loves

Some were on their way in. Some were on their way out. But it’s so rare they are all together, Robin wanted to make sure she had it to remember.

Some were moving to Israel, some were off to camp and then Seminary. Great grandma down to newborn baby, Robin has it all to keep and admire daily.

Robin is passionate about art. Her touch is in every inch of her home. This is another way for her to show who she is and who she loves.

Our virtual gallery design. Art is not yet actually on her wall.

Your New Friends

If you live in Atlanta and haven’t met the Kosoff family yet, YOU MUST.

Warm, friendly, and hilarious, your life needs them. Birmingham’s loss, Atlanta’s WIN.

And it’s all of them. Sometimes you find you click with a family member or two. But 5/5 Kosoffs are awesome.

We were very focused on this session. They needed a family portrait for their holiday card. We set it up, made a few adjustments as we went, nabbed the image they were going for, and were done. Too soon. I would have been good with hanging with them a while longer.

Continuing to Play

Adrienne and I go back to middle school, and all these years later continue to play together. I photograph her maternity and newborn, she paints murals on my children’s walls. I capture her family as it continues to grow, she helps design my photography studio. I respect her as an artist, and am delighted to continue to call her a friend.

Her husband plays, too. He’s a musician with the band, Hinder, and plays beautifully with their girls.

Who else plays? Their little one and Ben! Since we were in studio, my kids were excited to see Adrienne again, and snuck their way in. Adrienne’s younger daughter begged to play with Ben in our playroom, so after our session, the adults got to catch up, while the littles indulged with toys. There’s something so striking and precious about peeking in and seeing your child playing with the child of a lifelong friend.

ClientsRachel LinkwaldNovember 9, 2022atlanta family photographer, atlanta photographer, childhood, children, memories, family photography, family, friendsComment

Our Backyard

This is an amazing story.

Keren is an appreciator of art and portraiture. Here mother creates beautiful work, and Keren proudly displays the growth of her children via pictures ascending her stairs. And yet, she said it had been years since they took a proper picture altogether. She wanted one to proudly display in her living room, and she wanted perfection.

Here’s where the story takes a melodic twist… when we discussed possible locations, I mentioned that we built paths through the woods and down to the creek behind the studio. She immediately scheduled to come over and look with me. I walked her down and through, and pointed to where it all backed up to her parents’ home. And then it really sank in. This was the perfect location. Not only because it was my backyard, but because, growing up, it was hers.

Here’s the design we created for her home:

Framing isn’t a typical offering, but we wanted the style and colors to tie into the existing pieces and room.

She wasn’t pleased with the school photo for one of her kids this year, and asked if we could pop into the studio and create one for the stairway.

I can’t wait to show you the finished installation!

L’dor vador, from one generation to another, and back to the backyard again.

ClientsRachel LinkwaldJuly 29, 2022atlanta family photographer, canon r5Comment

Makes Three

I’m grateful that this is my fourth session with Joey and Esther. I got to capture them with their parents, once they became engaged, a wedding re-do, and most recently with their sweet baby. He’s the most good-natured 11 month old! A true people person, eager to connect and beaming ear to ear. We’re keeping him off social media at this point, but I’m grateful to share this sweet family with you here.

Joey and Esther kept gushing about how all the grandparents were going to need prints of their sweet baby. They loved this image, saying it truly is the essence of their son. I can’t wait for him to see these as he ages, always with a proud sense of self, and then show his own children one day.

ClientsRachel LinkwaldJuly 19, 2022atlanta, atlanta photographer, photographer, family, portraits, family photography, atlanta family photographerComment

Lisa Rovinsky

Lisa reached out in a rush for a headshot. She’s joined a new legal firm as Partner, and needed an updated shot to accompany the press release.

She gushed about her friend, Laura. She said Laura was one of her first friends upon moving to Atlanta 25 years ago. She had loved the headshot I did for her dearest friend, so when she needed one for herself, she reached out for the referral. (Thank you, Laura!!)

Lisa had experienced a challenging day when she arrived, including her makeup artist cancelling with a possible case of pink eye. She was exhausted, and frazzled, and amazing. Regardless of it all, she came in with a rush of energy, and allowed herself to completely relax in front of the camera. This shot was the second image we took! Nailed it! I love her glasses and stacked necklaces: She wanted to stay true to who she is, give people a taste of who they will meet when working with her.

I asked that she send me some information about what she does. She sent the pending press release. It was so impressive, I couldn’t whittle it down to a sentence or two. Read on about this dynamic lady, and her Woman-led Law Firm!

FORMER NOKIA SENIOR COUNSEL LISA ROVINSKY JOINS CULHANE MEADOWS AS A

PARTNER IN ITS ATLANTA AND BOSTON OFFICES

ATLANTA, GA — Culhane Meadows is pleased to announce that Lisa Rovinsky ( lrovinsky@cm.law ) has joined the firm as a partner in their Atlanta and Boston offices.

Lisa has had two distinguished legal careers. Starting in advertising and marketing law, she served as Vice President & Counsel for Mastercard International and Chief Marketing Counsel for The Coca-Cola Company. She left Coca-Cola to go into private practice at the law firm Alston & Bird, moving on to become Senior Counsel at Nokia. Her move to the telecommunications giant refocused her career towards technology law and she has continued to build on that experience, working with a variety of technology-based startups.

“Lisa is an outstanding addition to our Technology and Corporate practices, “ says Kimberly Verska, Co-managing partner of Culhane Meadows, “Having worked with her in the past, I know that her creative and practical approach to problem-solving is a great fit for our firm.”

Culhane Meadows Co-founder and Co-Managing Partner James Meadows agrees, “During our time together at Alston & Bird I knew Lisa to be an advocate and mentor to women attorneys and a passionate proponent of diversity. Finding a partner who fits so well with our business and cultural goals, and who adds a wealth of experience to our team, is exciting.”

“I’ve followed the growth of Culhane Meadows for years and have had the good fortune to work with some of the partners throughout my career,” Lisa adds. “When I began to seriously consider joining the firm, one of the drivers was how impressively innovative Culhane Meadows is, and how they use technology to benefit both their attorneys and the firm’s clients. I’m looking forward to collaborating with such a forward-thinking group and the clients who value their innovation.”

Lisa graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University and attended Harvard Law School.

_______

Culhane Meadows is the largest woman-owned, national full-service law firm in the country (WBE) and has over seventy partners who work virtually from eleven offices around the U.S. Built to be fully remote from founding, Culhane Meadows serves client that range from startups to Fortune 100 businesses, offering outstanding efficiency and sophisticated legal knowledge from partners who are former BigLaw attorneys or in-house counsel, and have years of experience in creative problem-solving.

ClientsRachel LinkwaldJune 21, 2022atlanta headshot, atlanta family photographer, atlanta, atlanta photographer, Atlanta head shot, Jewish, head shot, headshots, headshot, jewish photographer, law, lawyer, Culhane MeadowsComment

Daniel Wachtel

I have lots of great things to say about Daniel Wachtel (and his family.)

He is (They are) generous and welcoming. Accepting and genuine. He loves their community, staying active, and attending concerts.

Pretty much the type of person you would turn to when you need help. When you are struggling and need guidance. When you are ready for change.

Learn more about what dan has to offer

ClientsRachel LinkwaldJune 2, 2022atlanta headshot, atlanta, atlanta family photographer, atlanta photographer, Atlanta head shot, Jewish, headshots, headshot, head shot, jewish photographer, atlanta therapist, psychiatrist, atlanta psychiatristComment

My Mother

My Mother

She asks me to take her portrait.

I ask if she loves it.

She says, “It’s not for me, it’s for you.”

I pretend I didn’t really hear it. Because I can’t really hear it.

Rubbing my back as I fall asleep in my childhood bedroom

Walls covered in the mural she commissioned that would spark stories

She listens. The greatest gift she gave me was that she made space for listening.

She was safe, and she taught me to listen to my own.

But I can’t hear her today.

The Moment is Now

Dana reached out looking for a last minute photographer, wanting to capture the moment with her family before her mother was scheduled to begin Chemotherapy that week.

My stomach lurched. Both my mother and mother in law are, thanks to G-d, cancer survivors.

Dana’s mother is battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. But she wanted to keep it quiet during the session, because her brother still didn’t know about it. He has Fragile X, and she wanted him to enjoy the session.

I wondered if I would. I wondered if I would keep it together.

It was an expectedly emotional process. Both the session and when we viewed the images and came up with a plan for them. I am so grateful to begin the process of creating an album for her, one that she will be able to pass down to her daughters.

I wish Dana and her family a lifetime of health and joy.

Update:

Game for Anything

Can I tell you about the ridiculous amount of fun I had with Ellie?

She works as a Psychiatrist with her own practice. Much of her work is Telehealth, and she’s putting together a fantastic new website. But she’s pretty camera shy, and has little to show of herself. We needed her clients to get a sense of her.

She arrived game for anything. We wanted some headshots, some branding, and lots of material for use on the site and to cover her for any needs that arise. So we got to make maximum use of the studio and grounds: shooting indoors and out, rearranging to create a variety of scenarios and backdrops. It was amazing to really put my location to use.

We did headshots first. One outdoors, one indoors. So she could present different vibes as is called for by occasion.

I learned that Ellie lives in the world of “YES!” She claimed she wasn’t creative (not true), and allowed me to guide and suggest. But as vulnerable as I imagine she felt, she excitedly not only tackled every concept presented, but contributed her own nuanced ideas. It all felt so synergistic.

Click each to view

You want to work with Ellie (Elyssa) if you want a team mate. Someone who will be receptive, malleable, enthusiastic, and willing to challenge both you and herself. https://www.elyssabarronmd.com/

ClientsRachel LinkwaldFebruary 10, 2022head shot, headshots, headshot, ph, photographer, atlanta, atlanta headshot, Atlanta head shot, atlanta photographer, atlanta family photographerComment

The Chameleon

I’m grateful that the Jewish Moms of Atlanta (shout-out!!) directed Eriana straight into my studio. She’s a woman you notice. Full of intrigue and a winding story of how she found herself on an unexpected journey: both professionally and personally.

She’s starting work at Honeywell as a Sr. Business Development Manager. She has a fantastically varied history before this in the beauty industry, and then connecting baby products to big name brands. I asked if she did relatively the same work in all of these different sectors, but nope, she’s always crushing something new. Seriously, check this woman out: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erianarivera-rozo

It’s no surprise that she’s so prepared to transform herself in so many different roles, companies, and industries. She told me a fantastic story of her family origins in Columbia, and her mother’s discovery that she had Jewish lineage. The Spanish Inquisition not only caused so many to flee, but to then bury their identities. But her mother, and Eriana, embraced the discovery. It didn’t negate what they knew or who they believed themselves to be, it enriched it. It’s evident that Eriana sees each new role and revelation as an opportunity to learn, grow, embrace, and elevate.

ClientsRachel LinkwaldFebruary 7, 2022atlanta, atlanta photographer, atlanta headshot, Atlanta head shot, atlanta family photographer, canon, Jewish, head shot, headshots, headshot, introduction, jewish photographer, portraiture, portraits, portraitphotographyComment

Style

Sara wanted a session commemorating her son’s upshern (3rd birthday). Originally, she had in mind that we do the session before the party, since they were dressing up anyway. Ultimately, she decided to separate the two, as she wanted a low pressure session where it would be the only thing on her mind.

We shot in their home, moving only a couple pieces of furniture and taking advantage of the lovely light in their space.

We reviewed the images together, then she chatted with her amazing interior designer (I need to get her name and link her here!!), and together, we created a vision, and I edited her images accordingly.

Left: our design, virtual on the wall, Right: the actual installation

It was tremendous fun creating images to fulfill our final vision.

EDIT! And then…

Sara reached out, craving one more image. She wanted a color shot, to gift her husband for his office:

3/3

*Edit at bottom

The final installment…

Alexandra was coy when she first called, requesting to learn about three sessions in a year. She finally came out with it, and stopped claiming it would be nice to capture different seasons: she wanted to capture her family as a threesome, through maternity, and then as a foursome. She wanted to tell the story of their growth.

SEE PAST SESSIONS HERE

May I present, the family of four:

Most fun, was creating their wall gallery!

We’ll be hanging them in their living room, over a new couch due to come. I can’t wait to see them up!

I have to say, this has been a really touching journey. It’s so beautiful to be a part of people’s growth, milestones, fears, and celebrations. This family has so much joy, so much humor, so much sass and spunk. Every part of the process with them has felt like a celebration. I’m so grateful. And I will try not to cry when I see this on their walls. Thank you for this opportunity.

ClientsRachel LinkwaldJanuary 11, 2022atlanta family photographer, atlanta, atlanta photographer, art, home art, custom art, living room art, maternity photoshoot, maternity portrait, maternity, baby, siblings, sister, brother, baby brother, family, family photography